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Interview with John J. O'Riordain 14th Feb 2005

Interview with John J.O’ Riordain 14th February 2005.

RT : John, you have been studying the Celtic Church and St Patrick for many years. As you read his writings what are the key things in his spirituality?

I suppose there are three things that I would want to draw out, I am sure there are more, but for me these are the main three.

Firstly, Patrick’s spirituality emphasised total respect for the human person. He was passionate about the whole person; he just didn’t focus on one aspect of a person and say that faith was only applicable to that area of life.

Secondly, Patrick’s spirituality was based around a strong personal relationship with Christ. That was the driving force and the centre of his life.

Thirdly, Patrick’s spirituality was based on total trust in Christ. Providence and the acceptance of the fact that no matter what happens God is in control underpinned the life of Patrick.

RT : Turning to his writings, what can you tell us about the influences on Patrick as we read what he has left us?

Well the Confession and the Letter to the Soldiers of Coroticus are full of references from the scriptures. Patrick was a man of the bible; he quotes or makes references to fifty four books of the bible either directly or indirectly. One can also discern knowledge of the influence of the ancient Councils of the Church as well as influences from as many as twenty of the Early Church fathers.

RT : In his emphasis on the scriptures was this peculiar in the case of Patrick or was it a feature of the Celtic Church?

No, many of the Celtic saints learned and taught literacy through the use of the scriptures. So they were around the bible all the time. The Celts emphasised memorising the scriptures, particularly the psalms and it wasn’t unusual at the time for those who belonged to monastic orders to have memorised all 150 psalms.

RT : John, it is rumoured that Patrick used the shamrock to illustrate the mysterious doctrine of the Trinity, do you think this is true?

Whether he used the shamrock or not, Patrick wasn’t afraid to express his faith in terms of a relationship with the Triune God, God the Father, God the Son and God the Holy Spirit. Patrick didn’t shy away from relating to each these persons of the Godhead. He was totally at ease with the oneness of God and the triune nature of God at the same time. He didn’t get drawn into theological argument about this, for him it was more important to express and experience this God who is One and yet Three. In this way of living he has left a great gift to us.

RT : What has Patrick to say to the vulnerable in our society?

Patrick is not afraid to show his vulnerability and in examining his life we read of someone who was familiar with abuse from others. He seems to carry that hurt all of his life and yet the hurt produces a profound trust in God.

RT : Was Patrick the first Christian missionary to Ireland?

There is a reference to another bishop in Ireland called Palladius. So Patrick was not the first ‘missionary’ to the island of Ireland. The fact that Patrick was sent out as a bishop shows that there was a Christian community established before his arrival which he came to look after. But Patrick went beyond his territory in terms of evangelism and travelled to other parts of the island which probably no Christian witness. So in that respect he was the first Christian missionary!

John J. O’ Riordain is a Redemptorist Missioner, born in Cc. Cork and educated in Galway, Limerick, Seattle and Montreal. As well as giving parish missions all over Ireland and Scotland, he lectures and gives short courses in history, spirituality, theology and psychology. As an author he has written extensively on the Celtic Church.